Date:27/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/05/27/stories/2007052701790200.htm

Maruti re-engineers Parts Operation

Alka Kshirsagar

Pune May 26 Maruti Udyog has re-engineered its Parts Operation and put in place a modern Warehouse Management System to ensure round-the-clock delivery of spare parts to its 2,400 workshops across the country.

The system, which has been designed in-house, has evoked interest from Suzuki's overseas operations, and is also being developed for China, a company spokesperson confirmed.

It includes latest IT solutions like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to re-engineer and standardise warehouse operations and keep the inventory lean.

The absence of warehouse management systems had earlier led to high inventory at the dealers' end, as they ordered spares on a monthly basis, a dealer said.

As a result, even the company had placed orders with suppliers on a monthly basis, predominantly at the month-end, resulting in building up of working pressure.

The new system, being operated by the company's Parts Operation, handles 4,00,000 parts a day, including 1,000-odd components from its suppliers.

Maruti, whose mission statement seeks selling a million cars per year by 2010, hopes the system will help speed up delivery of parts, including spare parts of models like the Baleno and the old Zen, which have been discontinued.